The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon School Board Chairman Jim Wilson is pleased the trustees were recently able to discuss concerns with the education minister, but he's not overly optimistic that change is on the way as a result. At Tuesday's board meeting, Chairman Wilson summed up the recent 45-minute meeting in Winnipeg in which the trustees talked about various concerns with Minister of Education Peter Bjornson. "I thought it was a good meeting. I thought we were listened to," said Chairman Wilson. "I suspect like everything else, probably nothing will happen, but maybe it started him thinking." The province's ward system for school board elections, which effectively prevented half of Flin Flon from voting in the last board election, was one of the issues discussed. The trustees also talked about concerns relative to provincial funding and possible implications from the Creighton School Division's decision to establish its own high school program. But Chairman Wilson noted that there was no shortage of positive things to talk about as well, including the success of Many Faces Education Centre and the Youth Mentor program. During the meeting, Minister Bjornson expressed an interest in touring the Flin Flon schools, and the board extended that invitation to him. Chairman Wilson also mentioned that the Manitoba Association of School Trustees (MAST) was unwilling this year to support Flin Flon's opposition to the mandatory use of the ward voting system. He said he did not know why MAST took its position. In another matter at the meeting, the board reviewed a letter from the Kiddie Korner Day Care, based in Ruth Betts School, which requested the division pay for new tiles and floor repairs within the day care. See 'Inspector' P.# Con't from P.# The health inspector has mandated that the day care repair or replace the carpet in its pre-school and pre-kindergarten playrooms. In a statement accompanying the day care's letter, former health inspector Darcy Chrisp wrote that "the carpet in these areas was lifting and subsequently creating a tripping hazard. As well, the condition of the carpet makes it very difficult to keep clean." Kiddie Korner is asking the school board to foot the bill for new tiles and floor repairs in these areas, with the day care to pay for materials, labour, and installation. The proposition, which would cost the school division about $2,500, did not sound appealing to Chairman Wilson. "It would be desirable to have that area tiled but when we can't do the job for all our own classrooms and schools, how can we start into funding their project?" he said. The letter was referred to the Facilities and Grounds Committee for further review. As well, the board agreed to look at charging user fees to groups requesting use of the division's recreational equipment, such as snowshoes. "One of the comments that was made is that... perhaps we should be attaching a user fee to some of these (requests) because what it does is it deteriorates this type of equipment faster," said Secretary-Treasurer Debbie Bongfeldt. The issue was sent to the proper committee for review. Also, Superintendent of Schools Blaine Veitch was pleased to report that 20 aboriginal students from within the division have formed a fiddling club. Under the direction of Pat McKenzie, the students are divided into senior and junior age groups. The superintendent said the groups plan to perform twice in June and hope to hold a camp this summer. The club is a joint initiative between the school division, Flin Flon Indian-Metis Friendship Centre, and Manitoba Metis Association. A recap of other matters from the meeting: Superintendent Veitch congratulated the eight Flin Flon athletes who participated in the recent Provincial Wrestling Competition in Winnipeg. Three of the students placed: Eric Skeavington, Eric Kendrick, and Brittany Brown. Chairman Wilson congratulated Hapnot Collegiate and McIsaac School Ecole McIsaac on hosting a successful Provincial 'AAA' Basketball Championships this past weekend. Superintendent Veitch noted that the last teaching day before spring break will be tomorrow, Friday. Classes will resume on Monday, April 5.
